Crown of Feathers

Book : Crown of Feathers

by Nicki Pau Preto

Genres: YA Action & Adventure; YA Epic Fantasy

Synopsis

An Ember in the Ashes meets Three Dark Crowns in this lush debut fantasy novel about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to join a secret group of warriors that ride phoenixes into battle.

I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders' return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love's incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister's hands.

Release date: February 12, 2019

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Print pages: 496

Sample

Crown of Feathers

In the beginning, there was light and dark, sun and moon—Axura and her sister, Nox.

Axura ruled the day, Nox ruled the night, and together there was balance.

But Nox, ever hungry, wanted more. She began sneaking into the sky during the day, unleashing her children, the strixes, to spread shadows over the world.

To combat Nox’s devouring ways, Axura’s own children, the phoenixes, joined the fray. Only light can defeat darkness, and so they did, beating back the strixes again and again.

The war lasted centuries, and the world suffered under such a regime. But Axura was wise, and in humankind she saw not beings to rule over, but allies to fight alongside.

Atop Pyrmont’s highest peak, Axura took her phoenix form and made contact with the Pyraean communities who lived there.

“Who among you is brave and fearless?” she asked.

“There is no bravery without fear,” said Nefyra, leader of her village.

Axura was pleased with this answer and offered a trial for Nefyra to prove her worth. As a test of faith, Axura lit a fire as tall as the trees and asked Nefyra to enter the flames.

Nefyra did so, and burned alive. But her death was not the end.

She went into the fire a tribal leader and emerged as an animage, a shadowmage, and the First Rider Queen.

—“Nefyra and the First Riders,” from The Pyraean Epics, Volume 1, circa 460 BE